Final counting in the federal election is over in all bar a couple of seats, and we now have a new government eager to deliver on its aspirations for the next three years.
The previous government fell well short of meeting farmers’ needs and expectations in terms of providing policy and leadership conducive to expanding primary production and the rural sector. It is still early days, but we’re keen to see how the Abbott government will approach this sector.
TFGA is very clear about the issues we believe must be addressed to provide agriculture with the framework it needs to continue to grow and expand – particularly in Tasmania. We’ve provided written briefings and we’re in the process of meeting with our newly elected representatives to make sure they understand the issues and our priorities.
However, we must all learn to balance our expectations with a clear sense of the difference between policy and political reality.
Politicians make promises – especially in the run up to elections. That’s what they do. They listen to the messages of groups like TFGA and the National Farmers’ Federation and, in most cases, do their best to respond to the key areas that are identified. The challenge lies in sorting out what can be achieved from a policy reform perspective within the context of the expectations of the broader community.
First and foremost, we must have an understanding of the difference between policy and politics. From our perspective, some policies may be very clear cut and make economic and social sense. Nonetheless, there is a threshold of what the community will accept and can tolerate in terms of reform. While there is often a general assumption a change in government will open the flood gates to change in policy, the reality is that successful reform is almost always the result of a slow and steady process.
Public perception is a cumulative phenomenon which, over recent years, more and more has been based upon the skewed opinions of extreme groups. It takes time to change perceptions. It also takes some time to recover from the political hangovers resulting from a policy environment bereft of consideration of the elements that foster agricultural success.
What we need is policy which is realistic about what the rural sector needs to not only be able to meet domestic demand but also to capitalise on what everyone has identified as the growing opportunities in Asia. On top of that, at a national level, agriculture also needs to be able to step into the gap that will be left by a slowing resources sector into the future – especially in rural communities.
Let’s cut the rhetoric from both sides of politics about recognising agriculture as a mainstay of the economy and aspirations to be the food bowl of Asia. Let’s get real about reform and the policy needed to underpin the prosperity of the agricultural sector and the communities that rely upon it.
We accept there is need to balance policy reform with political and fiscal reality. However, what we will not accept or tolerate is another three years of government unwilling to play its part in ensuring the long term viability and security of Australian agriculture – one of the most fundamental components of any successful nation.
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